IBM V2.3 - Manual

Preface This redbook tells you how to design your FlowMark processes to optimizeperformance, capacity and resource utilization. This version has been updated forIBM FlowMark V2.3 and runs on the OS/2, NT and AIX platforms. It was written for technical professionals such as solutions architects, cons...

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Chapter 1. Introduction and Overview Workflow management helps you manage and control your business processes,pinpoint areas for improvement, and streamline your procedures for speedier cyclesand shorter response times. By defining the flow of work, everyone is notified ofoutstanding work and presen...

Chapter 2. Importance of Process Design The design of your processes is critical to the project and to your business. It mustbe done well. You should expect to refine your processes on an ongoing basis.Since FlowMark provides data in the audit trail on process performance, you canmore easily find th...

Chapter 3. Client/Server Can Mean Multiple Servers While FlowMark is a client/server tool, do not limit your thinking and design to asingle server. You should consider capacity and performance in your design, andthere are times when you will need multiple servers to achieve your goals,particularly i...

The expectation in this concept is that each server and database combinationare independent of any other. There is no communication between FlowMarkservers. However, this solution could, over time, be combined with thefollowing option. Ÿ Have processes on one or more servers perform subprocesses on ...

Chapter 4. How Big is a Process? How big should a process be? How much of the business should it encompass?How many activities should it contain? The answer lies somewhere between biggerthan the head of a pin and smaller than a galaxy. Again, there are nohard-and-fast rules, but some guidelines can ...

Chapter 5. Starting and Deleting Process Instances The most obvious way to start a FlowMark process is to open your process list,copy a process template and start the instance manually. But it is probably betterto provide a simple FlowMark API program to do that. This program could beaccessible to u...

Ÿ Write a program that calls the ExmDeleteProcess API. You can use this API toexplicitly delete individual instances whenever you wish, based on such thingsas time and date or other criteria external to FlowMark processing. The finishing and subsequent deletion of process instances is at least as re...

Chapter 6. How Big is an Activity? How much work should an activity represent? How long should a user take tocomplete an activity? For activities that involve the user interacting with a program,thinking about the problem, and then responding correctly, consider theseguidelines: Ÿ An activity is don...

Chapter 7. How Many People Do I Assign to an Activity? There are many options in FlowMark to help assign activities to different people.These are quite helpful in getting the job done. But do not go overboard, givingeverything to everyone. Think about the implications. Narrow the range of who isassi...

Ÿ If there is some front end program that uses FlowMark API calls to create andstart process instances, have it divide the work in a round robin way: one forteam A, then team B, then team C, then back to A. You can use the systemfields in the data container to limit the “range” by department, or hav...

Chapter 8. When Do I Use an Activity Block? An activity block is a construct that allows you to group several activities together.Its major functions are: Ÿ To reduce clutter at a higher level. This lets you have a cleaner big picture atupper levels of your process. Ÿ To allow a loop. The activity b...

Chapter 9. When Do I Use a Subprocess? A subprocess is really just a process, but it is called by another (parent) process. Ithas functions similar to an activity block, but it can do more for you. Thecharacteristics of a subprocess include: Ÿ Reusability: a subprocess can be invoked at multiple poi...

Chapter 10. Data Container Usage The FlowMark data container is used to pass information from activity to activitywithin the process. It also controls the flow within the process when data fields areused in transition conditions. The terminology used is “process-relevant data.” It isimportant to und...

Chapter 11. Using FlowMark Functions Wisely There are many functions in FlowMark that can influence system performance butare not directly related to process design. They relate to end-user activities. Thepeople who design a FlowMark system, those with the most knowledge ofFlowMark, frequently have ...

Appendix A. Factors Influencing the Size of a FlowMark DataBase When you design your process in FlowMark Buildtime, you create a process model.You then translate this model and create a process template. This is a bit likecompiling a program. The template contains the rules and other informationnece...

A.2 Results of Staff Resolution When FlowMark determines that a particular activity should be run, it goes througha function called staff resolution. This function determines who should have thisactivity as "ready" on their work list. Based on what the process designer hasspecified on the tw...

Appendix B. The FlowMark Internet Site If you would like more information on FlowMark, visit the Internet site: http://www.software.ibm.com/ad/flowmark Here you will find lots of information on what is happening in the world ofFlowMark, frequently updated.  Copyright IBM Corp. 1996, 1998 27

Appendix C. Special Notices This publication was written to give system architects more information to plan forthe number of servers needed for their FlowMark system, and to design it for betterperformance. The information in this publication is not intended as the specificationof any programming in...

Appendix D. Related Publications The publications listed in this section are considered particularly suitable for a moredetailed discussion of the topics covered in this redbook. D.1 International Technical Support Organization Publications For information on ordering these ITSO publications see “Ho...

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Glossary Note: This glossary defines terms and abbreviations for IBM FlowMark. For more information aboutthe differences and other terms, not definedhere, refer to the respective publication as listedin Appendix D, “Related Publications” onpage 31. A activity. A unit of work that is performed by one...

Index A activity 1, 3, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 19 automatic 12block 1, 15networks 1notebook 13 staff pages 13 volumes 11 activity block 2 activity, automatically started 1 activity, unattended 1 additional hardware 3 AIX 5, 6application 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 17, 19 assign 1audit trail 3, 9...

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